Hartford: Twain House presents reading of William Gillette story

Published
5:59 pm EST, Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Contributed photoThe Mark Twain House presents a reading of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a new one-act play by Shera Cohen about actor William Gillette. The reading will take place in the Lincoln Financial Services Auditorium on Thursday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. less

Contributed photoThe Mark Twain House presents a reading of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a new one-act play by Shera Cohen about actor William Gillette. The reading will take place in the Lincoln Financial ... more

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

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Contributed photoThe Mark Twain House presents a reading of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a new one-act play by Shera Cohen about actor William Gillette. The reading will take place in the Lincoln Financial Services Auditorium on Thursday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. less

Contributed photoThe Mark Twain House presents a reading of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a new one-act play by Shera Cohen about actor William Gillette. The reading will take place in the Lincoln Financial ... more

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Hartford: Twain House presents reading of William Gillette story

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HARTFORD >>The Mark Twain House & Museum will present a reading of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a new one-act play by Shera Cohen. The reading will take place in the Lincoln Financial Services Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.

Elementary, My Dear Fellow tells the story of William Gillette, renowned actor/playwright/inventor, Hartford born and bred, and most importantly, the original stage Sherlock Holmes. In 1896, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle literally handed his celebrated books to this constantly employed yet rarely satisfied American actor, telling Gillette to do whatever he pleased with Sherlock as he was tired and bored with the detective. This was the impetus to Gillette’s famous and long career. Gillette not only molded the Holmes’ stories into plays and wrote many of his own creation, it was Gillette who dressed Holmes in what has now become the character’s instantly recognizable image.

However, William Gillette was far more than Sherlock Holmes. Admittedly, even Gillette often entangled the two -- man and character -- through much of his later career and life. The play is William Gillette’s journey onto the stage, the people who helped him, his joys and tragedies. It may not be surprising that Gillette was a rather quirky, sometimes naïve, and enigmatic man...certainly, a man worth meeting.

A free-will offering will be taken. Reservations are recommended; call 860-247-0998 or visit MarkTwainHouse.org and click on Events.

The Mark Twain House & Museum (www.marktwainhouse.org) has restored the author’s Hartford, Connecticut, home, where Samuel L. Clemens and his family lived from 1874 to 1891.

Twain wrote his most important works during the years he lived there, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.

In addition to providing tours of Twain’s restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain’s literary legacy and provide information about his life and times.

The house and museum at 351 Farmington Ave. are open daily, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The museum is closed Tuesdays during January and February. For more information, call (860) 247-0998 or visit www.marktwainhouse.org. Programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are made possible in part by support from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign.